lII—DIDEROT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2558, 25 March 1903, Page 71

lII— DIDEROT.

Voltaire- has called Diderot "Pantophile, iiking everything, occupying himself in all things ; there is hardly any human knowledge, in fact, that has not been treated by him. Philosophy, pedagogy, criticisms on the theatre, and literary criticisms, romances, fiction, history, mathematics, mechanics, physiology, technical professions, everything interested him, and upon all these iie wrote opuscJes -and books of the jno^t curious kind. His contemporaries, however, did not entirely understand him, for half of his works remained unknown during his lifetime. For example, "The Nephew of Rameau"' was translated by Goethe in Germany 16 years before the first edition in French appeared. The dominant feature in Diderot was a perpetual desire to put intelligence into activity. Whether in reading, reflecting, or writing, it was always of others that he thought. He was only too willing to raise up for himself the reputation of an adviser, 'and always desirous of offering himself as "well as lavishing himself upon other?. So sooner was an idea in his mind than he was obliged instinctively to put it into words. He was a. born extemporaneous speaker, and his century calls to mind none but the most brilliant improvisations That alone was sufficient for him to exercise a profound influence, for all around him he has sown ideas which, germinating in the minds, have finally transmitted themselves to us. All the works of Diderot are not justified by the name of philosophical ones, though they are usually given that term. Some are, however, particularly devoted to philosophy. His first original work, "Philosophical Thoughts" frightened the Parliament. The naturalism and scepticism of the essential characters in this work aie audacious, but interspersed with original views which anticipated the theories of modern science. Foi Diderot's belief in God is only the avowal of our ignorance. God is the universe. Taking up tho Epicurean ideas of Lucretius, the Latin poet and apcstla^ of materialism, 8.C.. Diderot admitted that the order of the universe was the mechanical outcome of chaos, after a. long series of groping. A precursor of Lamarck and of Darwin. Diderot affirmed that nothing remains, and that without cessation everything transforms itself — space 4i s individuals. His principal achievement was "The Encyclopaedia." This collection m a vast work on all the human knowledges, judging the past from a modern point of view, reuniting with his fellow-writers in thib same jvork the most brilliant and the most diverse talents, forming a fascioulus formidable -which was powerful enough to break down all ancient opinions ; -such was the thought that inspired the compilation of '"The Encyclopaedia." A staff of assistants •grouped themselves around Diderot, of whom the most illustrious nre D'Alembert, Montesquieu, Voltaire. Buffon. and JeanJacques Rousseau. The eighteenth century recognised itself in this woik, whrah was waited for with great impatience, and welcomed with enthusiasm. It \u' composed of 28 volumes in folio ; 4250 copies of these were published, and not one remained in the

booksellers' shops. I<<^was necessary to think of a second edition. Voltaire valued at nearly 3,000,000 francs the result from the first year's sale of "The Encyclopaedia." In Tain the Jansenistes in Parliament and the theologians of the Sorbonne alarmed themselves ; in vain the Court at Versailles roused itself ; "The Encyclopaedia' 1 found protection and friends even in the King's Palace. The leader of the colossal undertaking, ill spite of the incessant attacks, evinced both energy and competency, and proved himself capable of directing and bringing to an end this campaign, a work of nine years. Forty years of laborious -work, during which time Diderot had so generously consumed his strength, had completely ruined ; his health. His last years were spent in retreat, and, thanks to the generosity of the Empress of Russia, Catherine 11, his benefactress, his position was made comfortable. He died in. 1784 at the age of 71. j This Frenchman, 6on of a cutler, of whom it .has been justly said he was the most German in all France by his ideas and science, was, at the same time, an artisfc and savant, a sceptic, and a passionate lover jof life, beauty,- and Nature. A strange and. | generous temperament, . lavish in his ideas ' and in his work, Diderot has filled in his pages ardent with the works of his own friends, hardly leaving under his own name a durable piece of work.